[h3]Asteria, Ed, Mother Rat[/h3] [quote=System:Ed] Skill Gain: Alert I! (0.9 > 1.0)! Though this skill is limited by the strength of your senses, and does not sharpen your senses on its own, it allows you to become more aware of your surroundings. Without conscious effort, you will pick up on signs in your environment more easily, especially if they present some form of danger to you. Essentially this is an anti-ambush skill. [/quote] [quote=System:Asteria] The System is already tracking Progress for Developing Skill:Soil Manipulation. [/quote] When Ed and Asteria looked up from their work--not just up from the tunnel, at the shadow on the ground next to them, but actually up into the sky--they saw the bug that was making that large shadow. Mother Rat poked her head out from the burrow as well, and gave a startled squeak. Enormous black scaled wings with spiraling purple patterns beat up and down, casting reflections from the sunlight that looked like all the colors of an oil slick. A dark purple, furry body between the wings was split into three segments, with a long abdomen ending in a barbed stinger. On its head, a large V shaped pair of antennae looked like they were formed of much harder stuff than a normal insect's sensory organs, almost like horns. They curved backwards like a mountain goat's, forming dual crescents over its rounded head. Two sets of compound eyes bulged from it, just above a curled probiscis with a needle like a syringe at its tip. The creature's six legs dangled limply from it as it circled, now getting closer, and they were each tipped with three claws evenly spaced from one another like the letter Y. Asteria let fly a stone, and the insect's head darted as soon as her tail whipped around. It did a barrel roll to escape, its wings beating rapidly before it swooped down over them--not close enough for them to hit it with melee attacks, but close enough to make one duck uncomfortably. It zoomed across the grass, getting lower until its fuzzy body was brushed by the top of the stalks, before it circled around and came towards the rats again, getting faster every second... [hr] [h3]Jason and Danny[/h3] [i]"Ja-Soon, needa get outta here!" "Dat's a Venture! Super strong one, run run run!"[/i] As Jason creeped around the knight, the man kept looking at the spot where he had been for a few moments...before his head slowly started to follow Jason's path. So it didn't seem like he could outright "see" Jason, and he certainly didn't react to the spirit's speech...but he could sense something, he knew something was there. And after another tense second, he turned back towards the cave... "Transformed is the best way to describe it, I remember being a human in a different world and dying which resulted in me being reborn as a Wisp. Now I don't know how accurate those memories are but seeing as I can talk to you they're likely to be real." "Re...Reborn?" The boy's eyes got wider, and continued to dart between Danny and his master. His mouth moved without any sound coming out, until he finally seemed to find the words he wanted to say. He tensed up. "Th-that's not p-possible! Only, only True Heroes can be Reborn! And, and only the Chosen Heroes can come from different worlds! And none of them are ever Monsters! That can't happen, even with Avatar Incar--" "Squire!" The boy practically bit his tongue he shut his mouth so fast. Still holding a blade towards Danny in a shaking hand, he turned to the knight. "Y-yes, Master Zieglar!" "You were right about this Dungeon being Undead--I can feel weaker Spirits leaving it, probably to avoid being consumed by the Core. But if anything is coming out of it at all, that means you need to seal it up, quickly! So make your decision to deal with the Poltergeist!" The knight now turned his head upwards, sniffing the air. He grimaced in the direction of the growing black clouds of smoke. "I'd wager those damn goblins set the grasslands on fire for some reason...I'll deal with that. I trust you to handle yourself, Trent!" "Y-yes sir!" In the short time of this conversation, Jason had floated closer to Danny, and Danny pulled out his Source Crystal Shard to use while observing Trent. [quote=System:Danny] You used Source Crystal Shard! ---Trent--- (Immature) Human [(Apprentice) Knight] All stats are superior to your own Possesses Combat Skills: Slash, Skewer, Cleave, Defender, Blade Charge Possesses Spell Skills: Minor Heal, Mana Shape, Mana Orb Possesses Equipment: Steel Shortsword, Rawhide Targe, Leather Gloves, Leather Boots, Thick Gambeson, Forest Traveler's Cloak, Cotton Undershirt, Wool Pants, Cotton Underpants, Wool Socks, Leather Belt, Steel Hunting Knife ---Charge Empty--- Do you wish to use your MP to recharge the Source Crystal Shard? [/quote] "Poltergeist!" The boy turned back to the talking monster and steeled himself. "If, if you're not lying to me, which I bet you are, then get away from here! Don't hurt any humans, and...j-just go away for now! Don't come back to this cave! And d-don't follow me or my Master! Or, or else I'll have to kill you!" He looked back at the cave, and then at the tree he had chosen to cut down to make his barrier. "Hurry up! I've got to seal the Dungeon off so we can get back to camp before nightfall!" [hr] [h3]Oberon[/h3] Oberon raised his hand and produced a Mana Orb, before he closed his eyes and expanded his focus. He could feel the Mana circulating throughout his body, ending at his hand, spilling out into a natural shape. Like fluids in zero-gravity, it took the shape of the orb. He then sought to expand his mind beyond himself, as he did in Meditation, to feel the Mana within everything. His Mana Orb began to flicker, as if it were losing cohesion--the Meditation skill couldn't be used in conjunction with another, after all. But Oberon didn't intend to Meditate. This tottering state, trying to walk the line within his own concentration, felt vulnerable and abstract. As if, if he actually concentrated on it too hard, he might lose whatever it was he was looking for. But he could feel it, and knew it was there. So now he did not try to feel the Mana around him, but only Mana within the air. He was seeking something specific, reaching for it with his own senses while still trying to maintain the flickering Mana Orb... This mindset, trying to expand one's awareness, and then softly guide it back...this form of mindfulness brought a certain peace. He could feel the Mana circulating through him. He could feel the buzz of background static, the ambient Mana of all types mingling together around him. He could feel the light falling across his body, its gentle heat on his skin...and the breeze in his hair... A gentle breeze, yet somehow much louder in his ears. A different sensation, something like the feeling of being at the bottom of a pool and pushing off, that rush before you broke the surface--being submerged, but in reverse-- When Oberon opened his eyes, his Mana Orb had grown even flimsier, weaker, but it hadn't dissolved yet...because it was spinning. Was some kind of centrifugal force keeping it together? It spun faster and faster, and it began to break apart at its center but it was still somehow holding together along the edges, and pressure of some sort was building in two different directions-- Oberon hadn't realized he was holding his breath, and when he could do so no longer on reflex he gasped and dragged for air--and when he did the spinning Mana Orb burst like a balloon, complete with the flatulating sound of rapidly escaping air. [hr] [h3]Ash[/h3] [Quote=System:Ash] Skill Gain: Mana Vision I (1.0)! Concentrate MP in your eyes to see the fluctuations of Mana. The level of detail and other qualities of your Mana Vision depend not only on the Rank of this Skill, but also on your physical sense of sight. Depending on the strength of your concentration, having a lesser sense of vision may also consume Stamina when using this Skill. At your current Rank, you can only see strange fluctations of magic energies and shapes that are not easily understood... Skill Gain: Mana Sense I (1.0)! You have sharpened our mental and spiritual senses! By focusing upon a single creature or object, you will be able to sense its magical nature in some fashion. Different creatures may perceive this in different ways--some may see a colored aura, others may catch unique scents, etc. This is not an Analysis skill, though it may synergize with some of them. The range of this skill is limited to that of your other physical senses, though in some cases a mana signature may become easier or more difficult to detect depending on factors such as strength, amount, etc. By touching an object or creature, even if they are somehow suppressing their magical power, you have a chance to learn whether or not magic is present. At this rank you must activate this skill in order for it to take effect. While active it will consume MP. Skill Gain: Minor Heal I (1.0)! The most basic of healing spells. In most cases, only surface level wounds are affected. Cannot cure diseases. May even accelerate certain conditions not healed by the body's natural recovery. Cast upon a single target within eyesight. You used Monster Analysis II! You used Material Analysis II! You used Alchemy II! ---Pixie Wings--- The wings of a Pixie monster, plucked cruelly from its back. Pixies, though humanoid in shape, are tiny and relatively unintelligent Monsters. Intelligent enough to use Magic, they are very physically weak. They are also quite mischevious, however, and lack empathy for other creatures. Their Wings are formed of thin, membranous structures interlaced with hair-thin blood vessels. They are too fragile for any form of physical use, but they hold some semi-magical properties. A pixie's mana naturally tends towards Energy and Nature elements. If crumbled up and applied to a wound, a Pixie Wing is known to somehow slow or stop bleeding. If eaten they are somewhat nutritious, but their small size and the fact that they are known to irritate the throat makes this a less potent usage. There may be other uses you haven't discovered yet... These Pixie Wings are of Below Average Quality. They are Membranous, Fragile, Organic, Non-toxic, Coagulate, Edible, and Slightly Magical. ---Dire Rat Fur--- The fur of a Dire Rat, still carrying its distinctive musk. Beast-type monsters, they are very physically strong and have sharp senses. They sometimes hunt in packs. Their fur is of medium length by comparison to their body size, and often coarse or dirty. Though their hides can be tanned or otherwise used in crafting, their fur by itself is of limited use. It is surprisingly soft to the touch, though. It has no magical properties, but may carry certain diseases or parasites from the rat. Dissolving a strand of Dire Rat Fur may make a solution more toxic. There may be other uses you haven't discovered yet... This Dire Rat Fur is of Below Average Quality. It is Fibrous, Organic, Fragile, Slightly Toxic, Non-edible, non-magical, and Insulating. ---??? Leg--- The leg of an insectoid Monster, still coated in its hard exoskeleton. Its end comes to a few short digits with hard tips, and rough spines are present on the lower half. The interior consists of an open circulatory system and deteriorated muscle mass. It seems rather useless given its state, but perhaps creativity could discover other uses... This object is of Poor Quality. It is Chitinous, Organic, Hard, Slightly Sharp, Non-toxic, Somewhat Edible, and Non Magical. ---Rubber Frog Skin--- The elastic skin of a Rubber Frog. It can stretch up to twenty times its original size, but as it begins to dry this quality lessens. To properly preserve it will require a treatment method of some sort. When stretched, it does not usually maintain the shape for long, and if forced to do so the skin becomes more likely to tear and less durable. It doesn't hold any magical properties. If eaten it has limited nutrition, but the difficulty in chewing it makes it troublesome. There may be other uses you haven't discovered yet... This Rubber Frog Skin is of High Quality. It is Elastic, Organic, Insulating, Slightly Acidic, Somewhat Edible, Non-Magical, and Durable. ---Rubber Frog Stomach--- The stretchy gut sac of a Rubber Frog. Its outer membrane is fairly durable for an internal organ, but when the Rubber Frog swallows something harmful it actually inverts this sac and temporarily disgorges it, brushing away the offending object before swallowing the stomach again. The interior lining, compared to the outer, is actually stronger while sharing the same elasticity--even with a sharp tip, a mundane or dull weapon might have some trouble piercing it. The acids within the stomach are actually not all that strong. Many of the insects the Rubber Frog eats have an acidic body composition of their own, and it is actually an accumulation of the prey's bodily fluids that helps the frog digest its own meals. Once the acid has been neutralized and the interior cleaned, this sac could make a very useful pouch, or be used for a variety of other things... This Rubber Frog Stomach is of Poor Quality due to damage. It has High Elasticity, it is Organic, Insulating, Somewhat Edible, Water Resistant, Non-Magical, and Very Durable. ---Rubber Frog Tongue--- This muscular organ, once detached from the body, can still stretch up to twenty feet long before it begins to strain--so long as it is kept moist. If stretched to its full extent before being allowed to dry, the resulting cord would be significantly weaker than normal rope but still serviceable. So long as it is properly preserved, however, it is several times stronger and more durable than most forms of cordage. While it is quite difficult to tear and won't fray, it is very vulnerable to being cut or pierced. This Rubber Frong Tongue is of High Quality. It has High Elasticity, it is Organic, Edible, Slimy, Absorbant, Non-Magical, Non-Toxic, and Durable. ---Rubber Frog Eyes--- These ocular organs aren't that different in composition from other amphibians, and have no inherent magical qualities. While edible, the mucus produced by the frog to keep them from drying out gives them a slimy, slippery texture and a rather sour taste. Despite this, they are packed with nutrition and especially high in protein. These Rubber Frog Eyes are of Average Quality. They are Organic, Edible, Slimy, Non-Magical, Chewy, Sour, Slightly Acidic, and Non-Toxic. ---Rubber Frog Heart--- It seems even the circulatory system of a Rubber Frog is stretchy. This blood pumping organ is capable of drawing and distributing an incredibly large amount of blood in comparison with other creatures of larger size, likely so that a Rubber Frog that inflated itself to maximum size wouldn't immediately pass out due to anemia, or suffer an aneurysm upon rapid deflation. As a result the heart is almost balloon-like, after being drained of its blood and properly cleaned. Using it as a bellows or even a filter pump of some sort might be possible, or as a sac. Cutting it open to spread it out to its full size, then properly treating it might even yield decent leather despite it being an internal organ. There might even be other uses... This Rubber Frog Heart is of High Quality. It has High Elasticity, it is Organic, Edible, Non-Magical, Slightly Acidic, Slightly Toxic, Very Durable, and Blood-Rich. ---Rubber Frog Liver--- Less elastic than other parts of the Rubber Frog, this Liver only stretches enough to compensate large amounts of bile that must be processed. The Rubber Frog's heavily insectivorous diet means it often eats creatures with poisonous stings or bites, acidic spit, or dirt-and-who-knows-what covered bodies. All of these impurities are safely filtered out by this organ. Its secretions contain several chemicals capable of neutralizing various poisons--at least ones that have been internally ingested. This Rubber Frog Liver is of Average Quality. It has Very Low Elasticity, it is Organic, Somewhat Edible, Non-Magical, Strongly Anti-toxic, Slightly Acidic, Somewhat Durable, Slimy, Chewy, and Blood-Rich. ---Rubber Frog Intestines--- Because the Rubber Frog often swallows prey whole, their intestines are just as elastic as their stomach in order to compensate large portions of semi-digested food. The gut flora and natural acid secretions in the intestinal track are much stronger than in the stomach, however, and get even stronger as the Rubber Frog adapts to any poisons or acids contained in its prey. The inner and outer linings are equally durable, and once completely cleaned out the intestines could conceivably serve as a strong rubber rope or some kind of tubing. They won't stand up to sharp objects very well and are more susceptible to bludgeoning due to their size. If allowed to dry out completely their use would rapidly degrade. One must also be careful to consider all the...mess...contained inside them... This Rubber Frog Intestine is of Poor Quality due to Damage. It has High Elasticity, it is Organic, Slightly Non-edible, Highly Toxic, Highly Acidic, Somewhat Durable, Slimy, Chewy, Disgusting, Absorbant, and Blood-Rich. ---Rubber Frog Bones--- Unlike the rest of its body, the Rubber Frog's bones are not elastic. Their makeup, strength, and size are comparable to other creatures of the Rubber Frog's proportions. They can still be somewhat useful in crafting, especially the larger bones such as a the rear legs and the ribcage. These Rubber Frog Bones are of Above Average Quality. They are Organic, Somewhat Dense, Somewhat Hard, Slightly Brittle, Light Weight, Mineral Composite, and Durable. ---Analysis Complete!--- Skill Rank Up: Material Analysis I (1.6) > Material Analysis II (2.2)! Your growing familiarity with various materials allows you to pick up more details about objects and may even bring up a subconscious recognition of what Craftable Objects might be the most suitable for a given item, compared to your own experience with any items you have crafted. You will also be able to more accurately compare different materials to one another. [/quote] After separating out various materials from the Rubber Frog, Ash was left with several pounds of meat. Eating it raw, the texture seemed quite oily like that of a fish, but the flavor brought to mind a very fattened chicken. Even after eating enough to more than fill her stomach, Ash was left with at least six pounds of flesh left over. Still being raw and full of juices, she could probably only compress or ball up a pound of it at a time if she intended to fit it into her throat pouch--but if she did that, how would she carry all of the materials back as well? She would either need to make multiple trips, risking that some scavenging predator would be attracted to what was left of her loot in the mean time, or figure out some way to signal the others... [hr] [h3]Digbie[/h3] As Digbie backed away from the Dire Rat, it continued to growl and hiss at him. It too began to edge backwards, one slow step at a time. The tension in the air was palpable, and had to burst at some point...then it did, as Digbie's foot barely crunched down on a dry twig. The Dire Rat immediately turned and bolted off, at almost the same time as Digbie took another step backwards. Out here in the wilderness, the only time it seemed these animals didn't want to avoid conflict was when their survival was on the line. They might charge an intruder in their territory, or put on a show of howling and stomping, but at the end of the day if one just turned around and left most of the time it wasn't worth the risk to the other creature to engage in a pursuit...at least, not for fellow prey creatures. Digbie had yet to run into any [i]real[/i] predators... After a short search, the Demiblin was able to retrace his steps and find his previous trail. Following it back through the forest, it took only a few minutes before he began to recognize other landmarks. The only other creature he encountered was a Rubber Frog that leaped out from under a pile of leaves as he approached. With a croak it fled further into the woods. Soon Digbie found the stream. As he approached it, and began to follow it back to the campsite, he noticed Torrent on the opposite side of it. She looked somewhat battered, but if she had been fighting with something then she must have obviously won. [hr] [h3]Torrent[/h3] [quote=System:Torrent] Skill Gain: Dual Cast I (1.0)! Splitting one's focus is a difficult task, but like playing the drums it can be learned. Casting different spells with different effects or requirements increases the difficulty and the MP required, but the caster's mindset can also affect this Skill. A Caster at this Rank may Dual Cast by: (1) Cast the same spell simultaneously, usually within two hands. Example using Current Skills: Fireball. This expends twice the MP cost, and both versions of the spell must be the same Rank, but the Casting time is only that of a single cast.(2) Prepare two spells simultaneously, to be used one at a time. Example using Known Skills: Digbie's Rock Spire and your Fireball. Rock Spire is prepared but not cast; the Earth Mana shines under the targeted area. Fireball is cast at a target, knocking it into Rock Spire's prepared area. Rock Spire is released. Both spells can be no higher than Rank I. Delayed Spells can be held no longer than 10 seconds at this rank. Certain spells that might require rituals, components, or other complexities might not be Dual Cast in this manner even at Rank I. This use consumes twice the MP for a Delayed Spell plus the normal MP cost for the other spell. (3) Cast a single instance of two different spells, usually within two hands. Example using Known Skills: Your Fireball and Ash's Mana Slice. You cast Fireball at a target to your right and Mana Slice at a target to your left, at the same time. This usage expends the sum of both spells' MP cost, and requires a slightly longer casting time, but both spells can be used at the same time or one after the other. Both spells must be Rank I. Certain spells with more complexities may not be Dual Cast even at Rank I. Certain spells that synergize well may increase in power or cause new effects when Dual Cast in this way. There are several drawbacks to the Dual Cast Skill. Passive Skills can already be used together unless they contradict or otherwise interfere with one another; Dual Cast cannot be used to combine Passive and Active Skills. Example using Current Skills: Meditate and Fireball. Casting Fireball would cancel Meditation immediately. Dual Cast requires that the caster split their focus; it cannot be used with your Focus skill or similar abilities. Dual Cast only works on Spell Type Skills, it cannot combine Spells with your Physical Skills. It also cannot combine Pure Spell skills with Battle Spell Skills, but Battle Spell Skills can be Dual Cast. Dual Cast and Spell Chant cannot be used together at the Current Rank. Even when the caster has higher proficiency with both of these abilities, the amount of MP consumed and the increased chance of error within the Chants make such a combination risky. Skill Gain: Guidance I (1.0)! Your pleas have been heard. Offer up a portion of your MP in prayer, and gain a chance to receive supernatural guidance. The effectiveness of the teachings depends on your faith--and your ability to read the signs. Does rustling grass along the path show your way, or reveal danger? Was that a whispered voice, or just the wind? Your faith will shape your journey. The better your relation with a particular deity, the more likely you are to receive their guidance. You used Monster Analysis I! You used Magic Analysis I! You used Material Analysis I! You used Plant Analysis I! ---Dead Blood Snare Plant--- A large plant that, for some strange reason, forms its flowers and many other parts from tissue very similar to flesh rather than wood or greenery. Perhaps being made of the muscular substance is why its vines are so strong. It is a carnivorous plant, lashing out at prey, but it has very little stamina. It thus waits for a chance to surprise the unwary herbivore, but otherwise displays no intelligence. Its strength and aggressiveness, however, causes some academics to insist it be classified as a Monster. It typically appears in dense deciduous forests, but has occasionally been found outside this environment. It doesn't grow well in domestication. It can often be found in places with higher populations of Monsters; blood spilled on the ground from their conflicts becomes an easy source of nutrition for it, as it doesn't have to kill and digest the prey before its roots can absorb the food. Blood triggers a strong reaction from the vines that search for prey, causing them to instantly lash out or constrict around the source. This plant's petals are actually closer in structure to animal tissues than plant fibers, which may also be a form of bait for meat eating animals. When separated from the plant they can be cooked and eaten much like a soft, fatty meat, but they burn quite easily and if dried out too much or smoked they lose the majority of their flavor. The vines make good cordage, but once they dry out they may rot away quickly if not properly preserved. Dipping them in blood occasionally even keeps them "alive," though once cut off from the root system they won't bloom anymore. This plant was killed by fire magic. The plant's body has been burned too badly to use the majority of it for most purposes. ---Grilled Flesh Leaf--- A leaf that looks more like meat than a plant, from the Blood Snare. It's been quickly cooked with a flash of intense heat in the open air, rendering it much safer to eat and sealing in the juicy flavor. The blood hasn't been drained though--this kind of steak should be considered the rarest of the rare! Beware any diseases! This item is Organic, Blood Rich, Chewy, and Nutritious. It is of Above Average Quality. ---Blood Snare Vine--- A thick red vine from a Blood Snare plant. When exposed to fresh blood, tissues under the outer layer of the vine contract similarly to muscles. The original plant most likely uses this to constrain creatures for some purpose. It is Fibrous, Elastic, Tough, Organic, Flammable, and Water Absorbant. It is of Below Average Quality due to damage. [/quote] After resting up for a moment to recover some of her MP, Torrent took her loot and headed back upstream towards the camp. About halfway there, she saw Digbie coming out of the forest. It wouldn't be long before they would reach the campsite again to find Oberon, but where was Ash...?